52. A Gentle Guy
52. A Gentle Guy
The Academy's midterm exams for this semester ended normally.
Back in my day, there were always useless incidents and accidents popping up during exam periods.
But the Academy back then and the Academy now are quite different.
There were many times when the Academy became noisy due to students taking their practical exams among themselves, but this time, it ended quietly without any such trouble, so I suppose that's just a normal, fortunate thing.
"Noah, over here."
"Ah."
"You could have just waited in front of the convenience store. There's no need to meet outside the Academy, is there?"
"Last time we had dinner together, Noona didn't like running into other students. I thought it would be better to meet outside."
"Hmm, well. I closed the shop and went home, so it was comfortable. I'm not saying it was a bad thing."
Anyway, since the exams were over.
I ended up doing what I had discussed with Noah right away.
It wasn't like there was any need to put it off, and at most, it was just buying him dinner.
I had thrown my things at home after work and changed out of my clothes, including the shirt that was soaked in sweat from working all day.
As a result, Noah suggesting we meet outside like this after work was actually quite alright.
Noah must have stopped by the [Dormitory] too, as he wasn't wearing the school uniform he usually wore.
Of course, it was a combination of a dress shirt and slacks, so it wasn't much different from his uniform, though.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
"I've already checked out the restaurant and made a reservation, so you don't need to worry about it too much. I think... you'll really like it."
"...What kind of restaurant is it?"
"That's more fun if you see it for yourself in a bit. I won't tell you until then?"
"......."
"Puh-heut."
I walked slowly, leading Noah, who is always quite fun to tease.
Since it was right after exams ended.
The streets were quite bustling, with not only students but even a few professors in sight, and the reasonably priced shops were already packed with people.
But the place I decided to go today wasn't reasonably priced anyway, and it was a place that required walking a bit further from here.
I moved along while chatting with Noah, mostly talking about the exams.
Had we been walking for about 30 minutes?
"...I don't think I've ever been this far."
"It's a street that's quite pricey for Academy students to wander around in. Can't be helped, right?"
"......."
We had moved away from the bustling areas and arrived at a street where even the shop signs gave off a strong, expensive, and luxurious vibe.
It wasn't exactly a strange place.
It was just a street with such high prices that most students couldn't even properly spend their living expenses here.
As high as the prices were, it was also a place that sold services or products tailored to that price range.
"That shop over there sells tons of expensive knives. Next time you earn a lot of money, try visiting it with your master. And next to it is a place that deals in magic tools; it's a bit lacking compared to what a mage uses directly, but the performance is solid. Why not go check it out?"
"...You know a lot. Have you been here often?"
"It was here 10 years ago, too. I visited often while I was attending the Academy."
"You came here when you were a student? Everything looks so expensive..."
"I did [Quest]s to earn pocket money back then, and I had to use that money to get my equipment."
"Ah...."
I introduced Noah to the street where good items often come in, just like back then.
Separate from the fact that the restaurant was in this area.
Because you could really get good equipment here.
I'm sure kids around the 3rd year of the Academy would know, but kids around the 1st year wouldn't even be interested, let alone know about it.
I gave him some good information.
Now, it was time to feed him something delicious.
"Here it is. I've made a reservation for everything, so let's go inside."
"......."
"I reserved under Skadi."
"Yes, Skadi-nim and one other. I will show you inside."
We went inside and proceeded to our seats following the staff's guidance.
Not only were there flashy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, but women wearing expensive dresses were dining with fake smiles, and there was even a band in one corner of the hall creating a lyrical atmosphere.
It was a restaurant I sometimes came to alone.
As expected, it was a truly noble-like restaurant.
It was just that I was a customer who visited often, so I reserved easily and got in easily.
Generally, you had to go through a quite annoying process when making a reservation... so I found myself thinking again that the title of nobility is indeed nice to have.
"Take a look at the menu. This place specializes in Jamón and other meats, you know?"
"...The price is......."
"The price is expensive, but it's a place that's just as delicious, right? Try ordering one thing you want to eat."
"......."
It was a place quite famous for Jamón, but aside from that, it was a place that only had delicious things.
Although I'm usually the type to cook and eat at home myself.
This place was decent enough that I actually made the effort to come here alone sometimes.
"...Noona, this is too expensive."
"I told you it's fine to order comfortably, didn't I? Even if you eat a lot here today, it's not like I'm going to become destitute."
"That may be, but this is...."
I was planning on eating some delicious Jamón after a long time, but unlike me, here was a minor feeling burdened.
It was, after all, quite, very high in price.
Enough that selling dozens of items at the convenience store wouldn't even come close?
Of course, that was a bit of an exaggeration.
It was true that the price itself was quite expensive, and from Noah's perspective, it was only natural that he would feel burdened.
"...I just studied, you don't need to do this much for me."
"Hmm, you think so?"
"Yes, and it's not like I did it alone. Noona helped me..., and Iris and Katrina also helped me. For me to receive something this expensive is...."
"Wrong?"
"......Yes."
My, Noah was talking about such childish thoughts.
Of course, it was expensive food, and I had said I would pay for it all.
On top of that, the reason we ended up visiting a place like this was because Noah brought up the idea of having a meal after the exams ended.
Synthetically, from Noah's perspective, since I was treating him to something this expensive because of him, it was inevitable that he would feel sorry.
My, it was a childish thought.
And at the same time, it was a commendable thought.
I don't like rude bastards, and I like polite kids.
Just looking at the boy's master right in front of me... he had absolutely no manners, to the point where I always wanted to freeze him solid.
But Noah wasn't like that, was he?
"Puh-heut."
"......."
It was funny to see him making a face full of apologies all by himself, just watching my reaction and hesitating.
I kept telling him it was fine.
But the guy listening was still trying to decline, which was funny yet frustrating.
"Don't go around acting like an adult when you're 17. When an adult gives you something, you just have to say 'Thank you~', eat it deliciously, and live well. That's a kid's job."
"......."
"And if you keep refusing, what are you going to do? I'll just order it anyway."
"Ah."
Noah, who had been watching my reaction, started to get flustered at my last words.
And when I called the waiter and started ordering... he started stammering even more.
I ordered a platter of Jamón, and then ordered other menus one after another.
Although a good amount of Jamón is put on a platter... I had seen Noah's appetite often, so it was obvious that one platter wouldn't be enough.
A menu where you grill the Jamón and eat it with cooked cod and honey sauce.
A menu where you wrap asparagus in Jamón to eat.
A menu with raw salmon and avocado with a refreshing dressing, etc.
Ah, and drinks too.
"......."
"Puh-heut...."
Because I ordered a truly massive amount of food, Noah was slightly pouting.
I wanted to ask if a man should really pout over something like this.
But I had ignored Noah's words about feeling burdened by the price and just ordered anyway.
Actually, it couldn't be helped.
"Are you pouting?"
"...No."
"Your expression looks like you're pouting?"
"...I'm not."
"You're pouting, aren't you?"
"......."
I understood that his feelings were hurt, but today was a day to celebrate that this kid had done well on his exams.
Because it was a seat truly prepared for this kid.
We had come to such a nice restaurant for a change, so it wasn't good for him to only feel burdened.
I made such a playful remark because I wanted him to accept it a bit more comfortably.
Even though he was still showing a reaction that it was burdensome, that is.
"Noah, can't you just give in for this Noona's sake?"
"...Yes?"
"Huh? You can't?"
In the end, he's a gentle soul.
It was difficult for him to keep resisting when I was older than him, and on top of that, I had already finished ordering.
Especially when I asked like this, the Noah guy would naturally.......
"......Okay."
"Puh-heut."
"......."
He wouldn't make proper eye contact, but he nodded at my request.
In the end, I had been taking care of him so often from the start.
That's probably why he's acting even more like this.
But honestly, there's an 11-year age gap.
Isn't it natural for me to take care of him?
If, conversely, a 17-year-old kid were to take care of me, the only thought that would come to mind is that it's a more wrong situation.
"...Still, I would have been fine with a place that wasn't this expensive."
"Yes, yes, I heard you, Noah-nim. If you don't like it, come back when you're older?"
"......."
"Puh-heut, I'm joking."
I said that because if I pushed any further, he would really pout properly.
Since it was an age where skipping meals would be a real loss for me, I just moved on appropriately like that.